Shmuel
Browns

Guide profile:

I was born in Israel to Canadian parents and grew up in Ottawa so I am a native English speaker. I came to Israel to visit, travelled and fell in love with this incredible country. It was just a matter of time and in 1986 I made aliya (immigrated), did army service and settled down in Jerusalem with my spouse and now 5 children (so I have experience with kids and touring with them). In 2004 I enrolled in the tour guide course to become a licensed guide fulfilling my dream. I offer complete service, plan a personalized itinerary with you, handle logistics and guide you.

Recent reviews of this tour guide:

Drew H.

An outstanding tour guide! Worked closely with us to develop a tour based on our interests and desires. He was very effective in making our tour a memorable experience. I felt like I was having a conversation with an old friend rather than being lectured about the history of an area. Really knew his stuff!

Tour guide services/sample itinerary:

Shmuel guides throughout Israel customized to your interests, time and budget. He creates a personalized itinerary in consultation with you.

Here are some suggested tours that Shmuel has guided, each can be customized to your interests:

Herodium: a comprehensive tour that includes Lower Herodium excavated by Netzer as well as the archaeological park.

Photography tour in Israel for people who are interested in seeing the country through the lens of a camera.

German Colony: a walking tour, can include arrangements for dinner afterwards

Mahane Yehuda: a walking tour to experience this fascinating outdoor market and tastes of Israel

Alternative Hurva Synagogue tour: a) following in architect Louis Kahn’s footsteps visit St George and Mar Saba monasteries in the Judean desert and then b) hear the real story of the Hurva, its destruction in 1948 with the fall of the Jewish quarter and its rebirth after the Six Day War (you can do part a, b or both a & b

Barluzzi Churches: a walking tour of some of the incredible buildings designed by architect Antonio Barluzzi

In general, I build a tour in consultation with you so that you get a tour that is customized to your interests. I do tours of Jerusalem (I live in the German Colony), the Old City, Jewish Quarter, tours of Christian sites, the ancient City of David including wading through Hezekiah’s tunnel – these tours combine history, archaeology, religion, architecture, etc. I guide a food and people tour of Mahane Yehuda market. I guide tours in Tel Aviv-Jaffa a combination of history, architecture, art and culture.

I am happy to take you farther afield, day trips from Jerusalem to Herodium, desert monasteries, Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, the oases of Ein Gedi and Ein Feshka in the Judean desert, hiking Nahal Arugot or for the more adventurous Nahal Darga, the Dead Sea and Masada.